What happens when all your profs collaborate...

Ever get that feeling that all of your professors have talked to each other and are devising a perfect plan to make your life as hard as possible? well, I think mine have, judging by the inordinate amount of papers, projects and exams in these next few weeks. But not to worry! My Angel has supplied me with the necessary tools to make it through. She forced me (not really, but it was her idea) to make a list of all the crap I have to do. This was actually surprisingly helpful! Every night I look at the list (add something if necessary) and decide what I have to do first, how I need to prioritize, ect. With out that I list I would totally be freaking out. Also, our one year is coming up very soon, and just thinking about that is making me happy, not to mention giving me something to look forward to in the near future. Also on that note (looking forward to cool stuff) I am still very exited about the relay for life coming up April 24th! I am actually listening to our college radio station as I write this and I just heard a PSA about the relay!! How cool is that? I will be writing a post in the very near future about my grandma (who I am relaying for) and how much she impacted my current life, so look for that hopefully by the end of the night. Until then it's time to go for a quick stress relief climb then some more HW. Peace.

Lighting F/X Competition: Update

Remember last weekend when I told you about my Buddy Bud and I winning that Lighting Design competition at USITT? well I have some more news on the subject! First, they finally uploaded our design onto their website. Check it out here. Most of the page is describing to other lighting professionals how to recreate our design. It tells what gobos we used where, the color gel we had, ect. On the left side of the page is a link that says "Launch Video" this will play a recreation video of our design. Enjoy!  Oh, also, last time I said Apollo Lighting would be sending us one prize package of gear, but they recently told us that we both designed the effect, we would both get the stuff! They said they will send it in the next few weeks. Can't wait to rock my Apollo Lighting Design hoodie, lol!  anyway, enjoy the effect. Peace.  

Excited!!

Ok, a little bit of exiting news. I have some fun stuff coming up that i wanted to let you all know about. First, in two weeks, on April 11th and 12th I will be attempting to climb Uncompagre Peak (Pictured). It is the 6th highest mountain in Colorado and the 35th highest in North America. A total of 14,321 feet. The upper slopes will be covered in snow fields and ice, so my partner and I have decided to use crampons and ice axes! A technique I have alway wanted to try. Don't get me wrong, I have experience in using both of these tools, however not on a large scale mountain. We will also be employing a rope team. Basically, we will be tied to each other and climbing at the same time, so if one person falls, the other has a chance to stop them before they go careening off the mountain (basically, through your axe in a solid hold, stomp your crampons in and prepare to take a mighty force, all in a few seconds. Actually, thats about all there is to it...). Also, if there is a more technical section, one person can 'lead' the pitch while the other belays, and then vice-versa. If we reach the summit it will be my first 14er, and my highest summit yet! Not to mention my first 'winter' ascent. (I say winter because it pretty much will be up there.)

Now my second piece of exiting news. On April 24th I will be participating in a relay for life held at my school. I joined a team put together in one of my classes, and we will be walking the track (in relays, go figure) all night! I am exited to do this because I have always wanted to. My grandmother was very important in my life (she taught me an appreciation of adventure and the outdoors, not to mention how to snowboard!) and she died of cancer when I was still very young. Also my aunt had cancer a few years ago as well as multiple other members of my extended family. I want to relay to put an end to cancer. So no one else has to lose their grandmothers the way I did. Grandma Monge, this is for you!

More info to come as both of these events get closer.

sorry ya'll

I must first apologize for my lack of posting these last few days. They have been pretty rough. As you know, I am fighting both bronchitis and tonsillitis. On friday night I started taking the antibiotics that the doctor gave me. Well guess what? Ya know those nasty side effects on the side of the box, that you think will never happen to you? yeah, they all happened to me, all at once. I spent yesterday in my bed trying not to move. I laid there watching comedy central and sleeping all day. I didn't actually get that much sleep because ppl kept calling me asking for stuff. It was pretty annoying, but oh well. I got enough sleep last night to kick the side effects and I am hoping I am on the right track to being completely better! Yay! Well, I've got to go work on the mound of homework I didn't do yesterday... Keep reading!

My Angel

She is so amazing. When I stumble, she catches me. When I fall, she helps me up. I share her worries and she shares mine. I don't know what i would do without her. thank you.

Powder dream: on command

Ok, as you probably have figured out my Buddy Bud from home is out here visiting me for his spring break. We have been: climbing? Check. Gone to classes? Check. Gone snowboarding in fresh colorado powder? Check! 

We have been planning this trip for months. We had agreed that the only day we could go boarding was on thursday. At the beginning of this week it was in the 60's! I was quite concerned that we wouldn't have any good snow. So you can imagine my surprise waking up this morning and seeing 10 inches of fresh powder! It was almost as if someone had order it all, and it was just waiting for us to tip the delivery man and go shred it up! So, we did. Well, with out tipping that pesky delivery boy. It was an epic day of gnar. Very well timed. 

If you can do it once, do it again with a camera

Remember yesterday when I told you about how good climbing is to relax, and free your mind (cheesy, I know just roll with it). Anyway, today we went back to the gym and this time we brought a camera! My Buddy Bud finally got that R7 thats been bugging him (yay!!!!) but I am still looking for a repeat on my A11. I keep getting stuck at the crux move (go figure). We did the usual bouldering but this time we added some top roping and I showed him how to do a prusik ascent(very fun). So, sit back, relax, and enjoy some pictures!

(Pictured above:

Top: ceiling crawl, nailing the heel hook on the R7

below that: a prusik ascent)

damn...

Ok, I told you at the end of my last post that I was headed for the doctor. Seeing as the doctor is just one floor down in my dorm building, that wasn't to hard. Anyway, the doc told me that I have both bronchitis and tonsillitis. She gave me an antibiotic that I hope works soon...

The Things that worry me... currently

Ok, this will probably be a reoccurring post, I just need to get all the stuff I'm worried about out there...

First is al the make up work I have to do from last week. A bunch of reading in COTH 222 (pretty much all of "uncle toms cabin"), then I need to learn a concept in MATH 105 before the test on friday! In visual communication my group is way behind on our group project, that will take time away from doing all the other stuff. In history of the middle east I need to find the notes from last week, because the person I asked to take them for me, skipped half the week, which is completely unlike her... 

Next is OLRM 283. There are two very big projects due in the next few weeks. The first is a 75 minute presentation. The other is a "community Leadership project" where a partner and I have to go into the community and teach an activity... 

After that comes Money, I have none. Leave it at that.

Behind money of course is taxes. They are approaching. I found a free service on campus that should be able to do them for me, but I'm still nervous, cause I have yet to find the time to talk to them.

I am also worried about my friend I told you about earlier. Things are getting better, but not over yet.

Finally I am worried about myself. I have been sick for awhile, so I am going to the doctor right now. And thats why I must go now, I'm late for my appointment. Hope this didn't bore you to tears, I just had to put it down.

Want to blow off steam? Try climbing ceilings!

At my school we have a part of our climbing gym that we call (affectionately) the cave. Its basically a smaller room that has been converted into a bouldering, well, cave. All four walls and, you guessed it, the ceiling are made into climbing walls. 

Tonight my Buddy Bud and I decided to head over to the cave and do some climbing (not that that is unusual, we do it pretty much every night). Today we did the usual routes, had some successes (I finally sent the A11!) and some set backs (climbing partner is still working on the tricky R7, no dice on the heel hook but he'll get it). After a good while climbing we were getting kinda bored of the usual routes, so we decided to climb across the ceiling. Basically climb straight up the wall, climb horizontally across the ceiling, then back down the other side. I'm not quite sure what your thinking right now, but this is not as easy as it sounds. Getting over the mental side alone, feeling like "I really shouldn't be able to do this!" is a challenge. However, it is the mental part that I find most rewarding. I can personally tell you that when you are hanging onto a few holds on the ceiling of a room, there is not a lot else on your mind. The only thing in there is how your going to do the next move with out losing your balance and decking(that would be bad). Its just you and the rock (in this case plastic, but bear with me, ok?). When I'm doing this I am completely free. If you asked me at the time what my biggest concern was, outside the gym, I would not be able to remember. It all goes away, blank slate. Its my chance to get a break from stress. To blow off steam. To just be as I want to be. Free.

the ol' switch-a-roo

Boy, life can really do a 180 in a hurry, huh? Yesterday I was walking on air, everything was going good. My friend texted me this morning, told me that one of her really close friends (a younger guy, who really looks up to her) was in the hospital. This is the third person of hers that is in the hospital this week. I am worried about her, so much bad is happening right now. I want to make sure she makes it through it all ok. I'll do everything I can.

Good News!

Ok, as promised, this is not a sad blog. Its a life blog!  So, keeping with that I have some excellent, amazing, awesome news!!!!! First, the back story. 

Last week I went to a technical theater conference in Cincinnati called USITT. At the conference I met up with my best friend (and techie) from HS. We had what can only be described as a Grand Old Time, learning new stuff, seeing all the newest theater technology. tearing it up. 

At the stage expo (pictured above) there was a booth holding a design contest. You got one light (a source four) and a combination of 3 gobos(cut out metal sheet to form a pattern in the light) and a gel(color additive). We played around for awhile, and eventually came up with a design we liked. We added a spinner(device that makes the gobos rotate) and turned in the design. We came up with a ridiculous name (Galactology) and called it done. We didn't really think much of it. That was on thursday. 

Today my friend arrived at my school for his spring break. Just after we got settled down in my dorm he got an email. It was from the people running the competition (Apollo Lighting design). They informed us that we got first place!!! We were completely shocked, I actually had to ask my partner in crime many many times why he kept saying, "WHAT?!" "REALLY?!" and staring at his computer. After the shock abated enough for us to think straight we called and emailed pretty much everyone we knew, with special emphasis on those who helped shape our theater careers. The prize is a significant amount of equipment given to our theater (well money to buy some) and some cool shirts and other stuff for us to split. Most notably a columbia jacket. The company will be posting our design on their website soon! Check it out at 'apollodesign.net' click on "design a pattern contest".

Hope you enjoyed my second post! Keep on reading and invite your friends :) thx

Why? In a world of blogs, one more?

  I just want to start off my blog with an explanation, of two things. The first is why I decided to make a blog. I know they've been around forever, and that I'm just another drop in the pond of millions of existing bloggers. I know what your thinking, another boring ass blog, yippy!! I hope not. My reason is this: this year has been especially messed up and hard, I don't want to make a whiny blog about how much life sucks, that would be L.A.M.E.! I just want a place to write stuff, get it out there. And don't get me wrong, I'm not just gonna write sad, depressing stuff, I will write my life as it is! No frils, no BS, just want I am doing: experiences, feelings, stuff I want to share, ya know. Life. 

The second thing I would like to explain is the name and the title of my blog. To that I will say this: Think about it. Analyze. Your all smart, witty, intelligent people. Use your knowledge of literature and the common condition of man. Have fun!  

Ok, now that I've rambled a bit time to post. Hope you come back and read more later!!